HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3353        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Rita A. Mendes

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to establishing a municipal tax assessment increase limit.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3353        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4051

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to establishing a municipal tax assessment increase limit.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 56 of chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following 2 paragraphs:-

A city or town shall have discretionary authority to determine: (i) the residential tax rate factor shift and portion of tax levy to be paid by commercial, industrial and personal property classes without being bound by the commissioner of revenue pursuant to section 1A of chapter 58; and (ii) if properties should be subject to higher taxation that are registered as derelict or abandoned residential, commercial or industrial property for a period of at least 5 years.

A city or town may apply for hardship to the commissioner of revenue to cover the tax levy for any shortfall of property tax revenue collected during periods when the commissioner has collected a tax surplus. The amount to be applied for cannot exceed 5 per cent of the total tax levy amount of any city or town applying.